President's Message

Synergy

Definition of synergy

• The increased effectiveness that results when two or more people or businesses work together

• The interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substances, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects.

It’s unbelievable that our season is almost half over. The summer solstice, the 21st of June, is the longest day of the year, after which, days get shorter and the bees gear up for the winter to come. Overall, the Tulip Poplar didn’t produce as hoped this year. The flowers opened early while it was still a bit cool, warmed for a couple of weeks, and then were hit with a week of the blackberry winter, shutting down the nectar flow. As it warmed back up the Privet exploded! Taste your honey frames before you extract them. We are all counting on Sourwood to pull us through --  that will hopefully begin in another 2 weeks or so judging by development at my yards.

We are involved with beginning beekeepers who are counting on us as mentors to help pull them through this first season. There are so many details to remember and concepts to grasp. The first year is intriguing, yet confusing. In year two, details are better remembered and concepts start to gel. Year three is the danger zone. It is said that the third year beekeeper knows everything! Just ask them. From there it is downhill. We continually learn how little we really know.

But what we find is that the more we involve ourselves with the activities of the association the faster our beekeeping skills take shape. The knowledge of the hive becomes the knowledge of the one. This is the synergy. You won’t understand the value of this association until you truly become involved. In giving, one is challenged to learn more.

I want to encourage everyone to take ownership of your membership in the HCBA.  As continuing members, we have responsibility to our fellow associates to give, as was given to us from the beginning, without expectation. There is no reward that satisfies more than sincere gratitude for helping another in need. We need your involvement. You need our synergy.

• Experience it.

• Get involved.

• Plug in!

I look forward to chatting with each of you at our June Potluck meeting!
 
David Stallings
President
President@hcbeekeepers.org

Potluck Dinner

The June meeting is potluck! Please come and join your fellow club members. Socialize, relax, eat, chat! The club will provide roast pork loins, paper goods, cups and utensils! Please bring a dish to share! 
 

The June meeting is the 3rd Monday, June 20th. Location is Historic Johnson Farm, doors open @ 6:00PM, meeting starts at 7:00PM!

Stay Informed!

HCBA uses several communications vehicles:

• The website @ hcbeekeepers.org will give a summary of club communications

• The calendar of Events @ http://hcbeekeepers.org/hcba-calendar-of-events/ will provide specific details on scheduled events such as topic, date, time, location and and agenda. For directions via google maps, click on the icon next to the address.

• Newsletters will be published approx monthly. For the most part, the content will mirror the website, with the addition of some unique articles.

• Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/groups/949391935125978/  (or search on Henderson County Beekeepers in facebook) will provide the opportunity to chat with fellow beekeepers via social media. Ask questions, post pictures, tell tall tales, share your beekeeping experiences. Although club communications will often find their way here, please use the website or Newsletter to stay abreast of events and happenings.

• Twitter @ https://twitter.com/HCBeekeepers. If you follow hcbeekeepers, you will receive tweets (think text messages) regarding club news!

• Periodic ‘special’ emails, such as the Michael Palmer seminar held early this year. The Newsletter represents the monthly email you will receive from HCBA. 

Your Contact Information

HCBA member contact information (phone number and email address) is only used to contact members for 'official' club business!  Please keep your contact information up to date. To do so,  log in and update your profile.  Should you forget your password you may request a new password.

HCBA now has a 'privacy policy.'  HCBA will never share your personal information with 3rd parties!

B.B. Barns Honey Tasting Contest!

The winner of the honey tasting contest was Renee Trace and Patrice German! Both will receive a gift certificate from BBB and of course, winner’s bragging rights!

Congratulations!

Club Logowear!

Einraumbeute

Roger Bass  - HCBA member
 

I have already been asked by several people “what is that funny looking hive at the new Flat Rock Park?”   Well, obviously it is not a Langstroth hive body.   It is a German design that I call a horizontal hive.  In Germany it is called Einraumbeute and the company in California that is now building them calls it the Progressive Hive (beeprogressive.com.)  The frames are taller and narrower than a Langstroth deep frame at 18” deep and 11” wide and do not use foundation.  The one box design has the same volume as 2 Langstroth deep boxes and one super.  The larger height of the frame allows for bees to have brood on the bottom half of the frame and a larger amount of honey above the brood without necessitating jumping from one box to another on a cold winters night.  There are several other interesting elements to this design including thicker hive walls and insulation at the top of the hive.  The one box design means never having to lift a full deep or super when inspecting the hive.  Just lift one frame at a time.   Am I getting stronger or is this just a smart design?  Enjoy a walk around the park and check out the funny looking hive.

Mentorship Program

David Foti - HCBA member

HCBA has and will continue to support our fellow beekeepers via mentorship. We are now publishing a list of mentors on the website, for those who would like the support of a mentor.

Mentors are HCBA members who volunteer their time to help fellow beekeepers. Varying degrees of knowledge and communication skills are represented on the list. We are all human and come with built in imperfections.

HCBA volunteer mentors never charge a fee or take bees. 

Mentors don’t know everything about beekeeping, but a good mentor knows where to find a good answer. Perhaps a fellow mentor,  their mentor, a book…

Please respect your mentor’s time by having as much information as possible available when you reach out. Dates, actions you have taken, your observations, symptoms, even pictures.

Please remember, in beekeeping there is often no ‘right’ answer, but several techniques to accomplish your objective.

Mentors are found on hcbeekeepers.org at this link

Interested in becoming a mentor? Contact vicepresident@hcbeekeeping.org

Celebrate Pollinator Week

Kim ‘Pit Boss’ Bailey - HCBA member

Celebrate Pollinator Week!

Pollinator Week, June 18 - 25, 2016, is an international celebration of the valuable ecosystem services provided by bees, birds, butterflies, bats, beetles, and other species that help pollinate more than 1,200 crops. That means one out of every three bites of food you eat is there because of pollinators!  In addition, 75% - 95% of all flowering plants on the earth need help from pollinators to reproduce. Because of this, pollinators also support healthy ecosystems that clean the air, stabilize soils, and support other wildlife.  

Locally, Pollinator Week celebrations are coordinated by Hendersonville Bee City USA (a program of the City of Hendersonville Tree Board and Environmental Sustainability Board).  Last May, with support from the Henderson County Beekeepers Association and other local organizations, Hendersonville passed a resolution to become a Bee City USA certified community (7th in the nation).  This was just in time to host a few events during 2015 Pollinator Week.  This year, however, the city and their event partners have gone all out with a week-long schedule of outings, programs, and volunteer opportunities offering something for all ages.  In addition, both Mayor Barbara Volk and the Henderson County Board of Commissioners have proclaimed the week of June 18-25 as “Pollinator Week” in Hendersonville and Henderson County.

Join the fun, learn more, and get involved with bringing back the pollinators by participating in the variety of Pollinator Week activities being offered in Hendersonville and the surrounding area.  Get great gardening tips, help remove invasive plants to restore native habitat, observe the inner workings of a honey bee colony, or take a walk to observe native plants and pollinators in the garden, on the farm, or in the wild.  A complete schedule of events is posted below and at http://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/pollinator-week-events.  For additional Pollinator Week events taking place in the Asheville area, please see http://www.beecityusa.org/2016.html.  You may also keep up with the latest Pollinator Week news by liking the Hendersonville Bee City USA page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/beecityhendersonville/.

YOU!